Juanito:
Juanito was angry and said so: “Mummy why you didn’t tell me about Michael when he was alive? You should have told me about him before he is gone!”
He became a fan with the first viewing of Black or White watching intently while noticing every detail. His favorite part in the video is where Michael comes out of the fire in the Statue of Liberty. Captivated from the first moment, he remarked that he was impressed with Michael’s talent. His mother didn’t know that he knew about “talent.” Juanito is very impressed that Michael can sing and dance at the same time.
Entranced by Michael, Juanito first stopped and stared and then began dancing to his music and hasn’t stopped since. He loves inventing original choreography to Michael’s music and incorporating the Moonwalk and toe-landing. Thriller is his favorite dance music but his favorite song is HIStory. There was no fear just fascination when he watched the Thriller video and he loves dancing and creating new choreography that spontaneously arrives with sheer feeling. He also enjoys free style choreography to Black or White.
Juanito remarked about Michael’s smile and says he knows intuitively that it reveals he is a good person. He loves Michael’s singing and dancing because he says it is “good music” and he may be qualified to judge as he has an innate sensitivity to music.
If Juanito could talk with Michael and spend a day with him, he would ask him to teach the Moonwalk and then they would get out the Playstation and later go to play mini golf. He doesn’t know if Michael would like golf but figures if it’s miniature golf he could easily learn. He’d also invite him to do some dancing, sailing, swimming and diving and then they would camp in the garden, eat pizza and have water balloon fights. He would tell Michael that he is his idol and hero next to his daddy.
In August of 2009 Juanito’s school in Spain held a costume contest. Seven year old Juanito knew right away that he wanted to impersonate Michael Jackson. When the two girls dressed as Snow White asked him who he was dressed as andhe answered, they made fun of him because he was emulating someone who was dead. He was a bit upset when children on the playground teased and asked for an autograph but an older child became Juanito’s self appointed bodyguard.
Upon reflecting back on the experience, he wanted to know why people think it is alright to mimic fictional characters and superheroes but not a person who was real and who was a good soul? His mother thinks that was a wise and deep reflection. Apparently others agreed; Juanito took home the trophy.
Layne:
Layne is one of those very sensitive, bright, wise, joyful and soulful children. Some people are in tune to and moved by vibrations, tone, and the soul of music. At four years old, Layne is one of those. The first time grandpa played Michael’s video Beat It shortly after his passing, Layne froze in mid step and stood statuesque and entranced taking it all in. A few moments later he began dancing around the room. He too, dances freestyle with abandonment, excitement and a bright joy shining from his face.
Layne has a rhythm and mood for music. He doesn’t talk about his attraction to sound and melody, he shows it. When he is feeling quiet and settles into that mood, he asks for Man in the Mirror or Heal the World. When he is energetic and exuberant, he requests Beat It and Black or White, when he is feeling silly he wants Don’t stop till You Get Enough. Layne FEELS the music.
Because of Mom, Layne’s been listening to piped in music since before he was born—prenatally. He arrived to the melodies of Tom Petty and Mom sang to him as a babe. Layne’s mother was raised by parents with an appreciation for music. She grew up on Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Rolling Stones, The Beatles and all of Motown which is where the Jackson 5ive began. She recounts the moment Michael Jackson Moon-walked for the first time and talking with her dad about how ‘blown away’ she was by the magic of that dance move. She and Daddy played the naming game as all the artists, one by one, weighed in on the record—how they individually heard the message: We Are The World.
Father was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps and for years she says, the only thing she and Mom could agree on was music; her mother took her to a Beatles fair and a Stones concert in California. She loves music, is moved by it and thinks that the emotional connection and appreciation for it runs in the family genes.
If Layne could hang out with Michael he would talk his ear off about Grandma, how she gets him music and about his two new kitties and how he loves Michael’s music. Then he would ask Michael to sing and dance with him.
There is another dimension to Layne’s affection for Michael: Layne seems to hold communion with the soul of the music. Now if you think about that a moment, you will know what is meant. Music has a powerful soul and there was a time you felt it too, remember? Layne responds through movement with an affinity for Michael’s message of love, kindness, and his joy of life. What and who Michael is comes through to Layne very loud and clear and he tells Mom that is what magnetically draws him.
He likes Michael’s harmony, his dancing ‘and his love.’ He knows that Michael too was once a little boy like him and that he has a Momma who loves him too ‘to the stars, past the moon, around the sun, and back again.’ Sometimes it’s the babes who remind us who we are and from where we come.
Mothers Know that Children Know
Both of these mothers wrote to me about the effect that Michael Jackson and his music had and has on their children; there are many more around the world and some of them talk about the medicinal and healing effects of Michael’s music. One youngster who is autistic has had a reduction in his symptoms and began coming out of his shell after his parents started playing Michael Jackson in their home as a tribute after he passed.
These moms, on opposite sides of the world, allowed me to interview and write about their babies because it illustrates that children’s senses are honed more keenly to the vibes of individuals and what they radiate with their presence. They calculate the frequency of an individual and they feel it.
Both Moms wanted me to convey that our little ones are so much smarter than us and we should pay attention to what they have to say, how and what they cherish and who they are being and being like. If we watch them and how they react we will never question what is good because they teach us that by their uncensored and unmeasured enthusiasm. One Mom said “Children are not deluded or polluted” by the inevitable cynicism that accompanies experience and becoming a grown-up. We need to recapture and embrace what age has taken from us. We need to grasp once again, that magic and hang onto it for dear life.
That is what Michael Jackson was saying all along.
10 Comments
Those who are closest to God are children, and those who are CLOSEST to children. Children still have their connection to the Divine, from whence we all came, as the core and power of their being, and they are completely immersed in the magic of that. A close friend of Michael’s once said he felt Michael was very close to God. Why would ANYONE be surprised Michael was very close with children? Who else could someone as close to God as Michael was be close to?
Children are responding to the stimulus of music and talent of Michael. Children are very curious and they ask many questions. They do not read gossip, they just watch their videos and listen to their music and they love it … I’ve noticed that now many people are answering the question that children ask: “Mom, Dad who was Michael Jackson?” Speaking to their children good things about him, they get to have a good opinion on it. I have heard conversations of children who express themselves very well about Michael and I bet that in the future, the shadow of evil from harassment of Michael during his lifetime will be minimized or extinguished by the brilliance of his talent, genius and inner beauty as it should be.
A little incident with my about to be 2 year old daughter: She does not yet speak. just a few words– Papa, mama, cat, dog and cow and a few more. I sometimes watch Michael’s videos when my children are around. The little one prefers rhymes to Michael’s music (exceptions are his ballads, she stops to listen to them). I try to teach her to say, “Michael, I love you ” and she says “Mekl”…”O loo uuu.” One day I was listening to “We are the world” (Michael only version) and the picture was of Michael holding bubbles. My baby was insisting on changing the video and I tried to engage her saying Reet, see a “Monkey” Reet announced…”No, Michael”! PS: Michael comes in so many variations in looks that I did not expect her to recognize him but she did. 🙂
Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories Rev. Kaufmann. Michael’s voice and music has a healing effect on me as well! I listen to him EVERY day…..It simply makes me feel whole and happy 🙂 LOVE and GRATITUDE
Dear Rev Barbara, How interesting that you should write about children’s views of Michael. My little great grandson Reece who is five also knows “Michael Jackson.” Last Sunday we were sitting and eating Sunday lunch when suddenly he said “Nanny I love Michael Jackson and Jesus.” No-one had mentioned Michael or Jesus all day; then he tells me “Michael is with Jesus now in Heaven and they dance every day, I don’t think Jesus danced very well until Michael went to live with him but Michael has been very kind and taught him.” It just made me so happy to listen to such innocence. Since Reece was quite small he has had an ability to dance and when asked who taught him to dance he will answer that the dance is inside and he can feel it. After reading your post today and it was only a few days ago that Reece had this conversation with me, I thought I would share it. If only we could all be childlike the world would be a much nicer place. Love Anne
Dear Barbara & Dear friends,
It is midnight in Brussels and I am quite tired at the end of a very busy day, but I have to tell you about the wonderful “coincidence” that I experienced today: in the morning I read your beatiful article, Barbara. Late in the afternoon, I was in the metro, coming back home. In our metro in Brussels they play music: during the days pop-rock, in the evening, most of the time, Chopin! While waiting for my metro I noticed a mother with her one, maybe one and a half year old baby, in his carriage. I looked at the baby (a quite serious-looking child:)) and at the same time the metro radio started playing “Billie Jean.” All of the sudden the one year old kid started LAUGHING, kept looking at me, and DANCED in his buggy!!! His dance and laughters amazed me, but I was astonished when I realized that you published your article today as well. Beautiful experience, isn’t it? Thank you, Barbara! Bless you all!
As the grandma that Layne speaks about, I have experienced first hand the affection that he has for Michael– the Michael he knows through the music. His little self responds and moves to the vibe that he feels. Michael told us that he binds his soul to his work, and Layne’s shiney new soul vibrates to the rhythm and magic and love of Michael’s light that lives in his music. It is a beautiful give and take between the two; one little and open and filling up on that vibe, totally unaware of the imprint being left. And the other, physically gone from us, but still smiling and joy filled as his gift is received by a precious, happy child. Thank you Michael.
Thank you so much for this Rev. B. It made me think of Michael’s poetry — Magical child – he’s hiding in you. And … those are the moment’s when baby’s smile. I started my day with this writing, and smiled all day with Michael’s poems in mind. Love and Peace to all, Sue.
Another experience of children and Michael: My 5 year old was listening to an interview of Michael. She says, “Mom, Michael does not talk, he sings even while he is talking.” I said smiling, “Can you please explain what you mean?” She replied, “Mom, you know our silk curtain, his voice is smooth like that… like music.”
Thankyou for these wonderful stories Rev Barbara and to the Mothers who allowed these stories to be shared. They are truly heart warming. To the other commenters who shared stories of the children in their lives, thank you also for sharing. Particular shout-out to Anne UK – the story about your great grandson is too precious! That made me grin from ear to ear. I actually had a picture in my mind’s eye of Michael teaching Jesus to moonwalk in the same way we saw him teaching Michael Jordan how to moonwalk at the end of the ‘Jam’ video! Its absolutely too precious for words! I like to believe that the current generation of children will restore Michael’s legacy to its rightful place in history free of the medialoid garbage and misinformation that sadly still exists at this time. I do however also feel the tide is turning (albeit slowly) in this area. I feel very confident that Michael’s legacy will be safe and secure and his memory and artistry will live on through this current generation and all the rest to come. He will NEVER be forgotten. Much l.o.v.e. to all